Defining spirituality is difficult at best. It's a highly personal concept. Is spirituality the same as religion? No. That part's easy, although for some people, religion is a means of expressing their spirituality. However, you can be a spiritual person without being a religious person. In a way, it's rather like art. You know it when you see it.

The word religion comes to us from the Latin verb religio, meaning “to bind back” or “to bind together.” There's a reason for the term “organized religion.” Religion organizes people to worship a divine being or beings and uses certain protocols or ceremonies for this worship. These ceremonies are usually held in a building — such as a temple, synagogue, or church — specifically designed and built for the purpose.

Religious denominations also fulfill important social functions, carrying out rites of passage, caring for the sick and elderly, educating children, and generally providing a sense of community. For many people, religious faith is sufficient to see them through the hard times in life. They take comfort in the knowledge that God is watching over them and they feel supported by the members of their congregation.

In some churches, depression has historically been viewed as something sinful — a sign of lack of faith in God. This belongs to the “Get over it” school of thought, and fortunately is fading away, as research demonstrates that depression is not a character flaw, but a medical condition. If your religious affiliation supports you as you deal with depression, this can be a positive component of your health management plan.

Relevant Religion

A study conducted at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1999 examined the effects of religious practices, coping mechanisms, and social support on recovery among individuals diagnosed with major depression. The researchers found that religion served a vital purpose in helping patients cope with depression and advised doctors to keep their patients' religious beliefs and spiritual concerns in mind, as they treated those patients' depression.

Just As I Am

Not everyone has a church affiliation, however. If you do not have a religious faith, spirituality provides many of the same benefits of religion. Spirituality can be achieved on your own, without groups, without ceremony, and without “going public.”

What's involved in spirituality? First, there's a belief in a Higher Power — something bigger than yourself. This Higher Power doesn't have to be God, spirit, or even anything specific. Whatever you're comfortable with works. Then, there's a sense of purpose. Your life has meaning because there is a purpose to it. You are here on earth to learn, to do, and to grow. Finally, there is a sense of being connected to all life. Here's the connection to the universal consciousness!

Letting Go and Getting Free

Why is the concept of a Higher Power important? Sometimes the feeling that you need to control everything adds to your stress to the point you can't function. However, some things are beyond your understanding and control. So, accepting the Higher Power, however you define it, can relieve your stress and ease your mind. There's a line in Max Ehrmann's famous poem, “Desiderata,” that's worth noting:“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” Accepting that premise frees you. It allows you to let go.

A Little Help from Your Friends — The Big Book

If you are coping with depression, “One Day at a Time” and “Just for Today” take on special meaning. These are the familiar slogans from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the very first twelve-step program. AA also uses the term “Higher Power.” For members of AA, relinquishing control to a Higher Power and accepting your humanness are essential to achieving the goal of sobriety. There's some valuable insight here for managing depression, as well.

AA operates from the premise that the body, mind, and spirit are inextricably intertwined. Treating the mind is just as important as treating the body. Dealing with the source of the problem involves sharing experiences and gaining strength from others who are going through similar experiences. In group counseling, individuals suffering from depression find the same type of support.

Finding Your Focus

So, is religion or spirituality a crutch? No more so than ibuprofen is. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Bible serves as a guidebook for dealing with adversity and depression. It would be difficult to conjure up an individual more depressed than Job, and the lesson in Scripture is “Hang in there.” But the message extends beyond those faith systems. Buddhism teaches that all human life is suffering and that we must work to rise above our limitations to achieve peace. The message is clear: “You can do it. Don't lose hope.”

A spiritual focus can include religion, yoga, and any other method that helps you find resources to manage your depression. Back to yoga, for a moment. A study in the February 2007 issue of Journal of Gerontological Nursing found that those seniors involved in the yoga program showed a significant decrease in depression. According to Shirley Telles, the study's senior author, “the seniors particularly enjoyed (and felt better with) the bhakti yoga sessions — singing devotional songs to no particular deity.” It evoked “a sense of faith in a Power greater than themselves.”

Understanding that you are not alone or abandoned is essential to good mental and emotional health. Life's journey is not always an easy one. Spirituality — that connection to a higher power — can be a powerful help as you work to manage depression.